Game machine

ABSTRACT

A game machine wherein three-dimensional models of motor vehicles carried by transparent discs are used for forming the image of motor vehicles on a screen, the three-dimensional models being projected obliquely and directly onto the screen. A light source for projecting the motor vehicle models onto the screen can move with respect the discs. The discs carrying the motor vehicle models and a pictorial road and their drive means can swivel to give realistic banking effect to the screen.

United States Patent Nakamura [451 Sept. 12, 1972 1 GAME MACHINE3,060,597 10/1962 Gilbert ..273/1 E x [72] Inventor: MasayaNakamuraTokyo Japan 3,583,079 6/1971 Koci ..35/11 [73] Assignee:xQbushiki Kaisha Nakamul'a Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Iselsakuloi Tokyo, Japan Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro 22 Filed:Jan. 16, 1970 A'wmey-Greene 3 [21] Appl. No.: 3,450

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 17, 1969 Japan ..44/73354Sept. 17, 1969 Japan ..44/73355 Nov. 25, 1969 Japan ..44/93967 [52] US.Cl. ..273/1 E, 35/11 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 9/14 [58] Field of Search....273/l E; 35/11 [56'] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,575,413 4/1971 Furukawa 273/l E [S 7 ABSTRACT A game machine whereinthree-dimensional models of motor vehicles carried by transparent discsare used for forming the image of motor vehicles on a screen, thethree-dimensional models being projected obliquely and directly onto thescreen. A light source for projecting the motor vehicle models onto thescreen can move with respect the discs. The discs carrying the motorvehicle models and a pictorial road and their drive means can swivel togive realistic banking effect to the screen.

7 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures nummm .lllllllllll llllllllllllllllllPAIENTEUSEP 12 m2 SHEET 1 OF 8 FIGI INVENTOR NASA Y4 IVA/r4 n 094 II' LRA? AT'I 'URNISY PATENTEDSEHMR 3,690,657

SHEET 2 OF 8 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAIENTEDsEP 12 I972 3.690.657

SHEET 3 UF 8 ileillllllly INVENTOR M4 5A YA N4 rrA nue BY HAG/- EAT/1 vATTORNEY PATENTEDsEP 12 m2 SHEET 6 BF 8 INVENTOR M4 54 W! A/A/mm g;

ATTORNEY PATENTED 12 SHEET 8 [1F 8 FIG IO FIG [I INVENTOR M454 Y4 NA #4Ire/e "WEL HA TH ATTCRNEY GAME MACHINE This invention relates to gamemachines which are adapted to form on a screen images of a road andmotor vehicles running on the road.

The known game machines of the type described include a game machine ofthe driving simulator type wherein a road is graphically represented ona rotary drum and projected onto a screen. No images of motor vehiclesare formed on the screen in this type of game machine, so that thepictures on the screen are monotonous and without variety.

Another type of game machine known in the art comprises a plurality oftransparent discs carrying the image of a road and the images of motorvehicles respectively and mounted in parallel relation for rotationrelative to one another, a light source for projecting the imagescarried by the discs onto a screen, and drive means for rotating thediscs. In this type of game machine, .the light emitted by the lightsource is directed normal to and passes through each of the discscarrying the road and motor vehicle images respectively and is projectedonto the screen after being reflected by a reflector. As a result, themotor vehicle images on the screen are two-dimensional and the pictureon the screen lacks three-dimensional effect. Because of this, theplayer of the game can have no sense of himself driving a car on thespot and consequently his interest in the game tends to be reduced.Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a game machine ofthe type described hereinabove which gives an illusory three-dimensionaleffect to the images of motor vehicles running along the road on thescreen so as to thereby enhance the interest of the player in the game.

Another objects of the invention is to provide a game machine of thetype described hereinabove wherein the motor vehicles running along theroad on the screen have relative speeds, so that it is possible toproduce on the screen the scene of one motor vehicle passing and beingpassed by the other motor vehicle ahead.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game machine of the typedescribed hereinabove wherein the banking. phenomenon of motor vehiclescan be produced on the screen when the motor vehicles run along curvedturns of the road whereby the player can have the sense of actuallydriving a car on the spot.

Additional objects as well as features and advantages of the inventionwill become evident from the description set forth hereinafter whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the game machineaccording to this invention showing its external appearance;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the game machine of this invention showing itsinterior;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of discs carrying theimages of a road and three-dimensional motor vehicle models;

FIG. 4 is a view in explanation of drive means for the discs and anoscillation mechanism for a unit consisting of the discs and their drivemeans;

FIG. 5 is a side view of thedevice of FIG. 4 showing a light sourcesupport moving mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the light source support moving mechanism ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is plan views showing the discs;

FIG. 8 is a view in explanation of a speed control device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line A-B of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views in explanation of the images of motor vehiclemodels running along the road on the screen when the vehicles arerunning normally and when they are banking.

In FIG. 1, there is disclosed a game machine of this invention generallydesignated 1 which is formed on its front with a simulated driving roomprovided with a steering wheel 2, panel board 3, wind shield 4 andaccelerator 5. 6 is a slit for inserting a coin therethrough.

In FIG. 2, mounted on the game machine 1 is drive means 7 to which threediscs 8, 9 and 10 are connected for rotation at relative speedsdifferent from one another. Disposed above said discs is a light source11 from which light is emitted so as to project on a screen 12 images ofthree-dimensional motor vehicle models carried by the discs 8 and 9respectively and the image of a road pictorially represented on the disc10 in such a manner that these images are superimposed one over anotheron the screen. It is thus possible to see from outside throughthe windshield 4 the images of road and motor vehicles on the screen 12.

The drive means 7 includes an electric motor 13 for operating the discs8 and 9 carrying the three-dimensional motor vehicle models which drivesthe discs 8 and 9 through a gearing 14 so that the discs 8 and 9 canrotate at different speeds. In addition, a differential gearing may bemounted between the discs 8 and 9 so as to periodically vary thedifference between the rates of rotation of the two discs. Bymanipulatingthe steering wheel 2, it is possible to move, through apinion 15, rack 16 and wire 17, the light source 11 relative to thediscs,so that the position of the road on the screen 12 can be varied tomake the player feel as if he were operating the steering wheel of hiscar to cause the car to keep to the right and left sides of the road asdesired. The detailed description of this mechanism is subsequently tobe described. 20 is :a continuous speed control device according to thisinvention which is rendered operative as the accelerator 5 is depressed.The device is connected to the accelerator 5 by a wire 22 trained abouta wheel 21 and to a drive motor for operating, through conductors 23.,the disc on which the road is pictorially represented, so that when theaccelerator 5 is depressed the continuous speed control device 20 isrendered operative to control the rate of revolution of said drivemotor. The: details of the speed control device is subsequently to bedescribed.

The three-dimensional motor vehicle models according to this inventionare disposed between the discs 8 and 9 which will be described withreference to FIG. 3.

Arranged in a space between the discs 8 and 9 are three-dimensionalmotor vehicle models 18 and 19 made of a transparent or semi-transparentmaterial. A number of models 18 are fixed at their upper sides to thedisc 8 in positions disposed on the circumference of at least oneimaginary circle on the disc 8, with a clearance being maintainedbetween the undersides of wheels thereof and the upper side of the disc9. A number of models 19 are fixed at their wheels to the disc 9 inpositions disposed on the circumference of at least one imaginary circleon the disc 9 which imaginary circle is concentric with and smaller thansaid imaginary circle on the disc 8, with a clearance being maintainedbetween the upper sides of the models 19 and the underside of the disc8. This arrangement permits the threeidimensional motor vehicle models18 and 19 to run, when the discs 8 and 9 are rotated at rates differingfrom each other, without being brought into contact with the discs 9 and8 opposed to the models 18 and .19. It is possible, of course, to mountthe threedimensional models-18 on the upper side of the disc 9 and thethree-dimensional models 19 on the underside of the disc 8.

Preferably, each of the three-dimensional models 18 and 19 made of atransparent or semi-transparent material is colored'by applyingtransparent or semitransparent ink thereto. Alternatively, the materialitself may be colored with a dyestuff and fabricated into parts to beconnected together to provide a motor vehicle model.

The light from the light source 11 is transmitted through thethree-dimensional motor vehicle models 18 and 19 to project imagesthereof on the screen 12. The present invention permits to givethree-dimensional effect to the projected images, with changes in thethree-dimensional shape of the images of motor vehicle models on thescreen corresponding to changes in the appearance of motor vehiclespassing by when one actually drives an automobile on the highway. Thishas the effect of making the player of this game machine feel as if hewere actually driving an automobile. In order that the images of motorvehicles on the screen may resemble real motor vehicles in shape, thethree-dimensional models 18 and 19 are preferred to be deformed in shaperather than formed true to actual shape on a reduced scale so as toprevent undue enlargement or reduction in size of portions of thethreedimensional models which would otherwise be caused by the distancebetween the light source 11 and models 18, 19 and between the models 18,19 and screen 12 as well as their relative positions.

In FIG. 4, the electric motor 13 for driving the discs carrying thethree-dimensional motor vehicle models is held on the drive means 7. Themotor 13 has a drive shaft 24 which drives, through a reduction gearing25, an-intermediate shaft 26 which drives a shaft 29 for rotating theupper disc 8 and a hollow shaft 30 for rotating the center disc 9through reduction gearings 27 and 28 respectively. Slidably mounted onthe hollow shaft 30 is a hollow shaft 31 for rotating the lower discwhich hollow shaft is driven by an oscillation drive motor 32 shown inFIG. 5 through gears 33 and 34 in meshing engagement with each other anda gear 35 fixed to the hollow shaft 31 to mesh with the gear 34. Fixedto a shaft 36 of the gear 34 is a bevel gear 37 which is in meshingengagement with another bevel gear 39 fixed to one end of a shaft 38disposed normal to the shaft 36. The shaft 38 is fixed, at the otherend, to one end of a shorter arm 40 of a double crank mechanism which ispivotally connected, at the other end, to a longer arm 41 which ispivotally connected to the machine frame by a pin 42 disposed on theside of the longer arm which is opposite to the side on which theshorter arm is pivotally connected. The drive means 7 is housed in acasing which is oscillatably supported by support bars 43 pivoted at 44to the machine frame.

In FIG. 5, a support 45 for the light source 11 is mounted for movementrelative to each of the discs as subsequently to be described. A lever46 (FIG. 6) carrying the support 45 has mounted on one side thereof atension spring 47 which is connected at the other end to the drive meanscasing or a frame secured thereto and on the other side a connecting rod48 which is attached at its other end to one arm of a double arm lever50 pivoted at 49 to the drive means casing or frame. Connected to theother arm of the double arm lever 50 is one end of the wire 17 shown inFIG. 2 which is attached at the other end to one end of the rack 16shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the rack 16 is maintained in engagement withthe pinion 15 mounted at the end of a shaft of the steering wheel 2, sothat the rack 16 moves in a direction normal to the plane of FIG. 2 asthe steering wheel 2 is manipulated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the light source supporter 45 which is mounted onthe lever 46 pivotally connected to drive means casing or frame at 51 iscapable of adjusting its position on the lever 46 and also of beingfixed in any position as desired. The end of the connecting rod 48mounted on the lever 46 is also capable of adjusting its position on thelever 46 and also of being fixed in any position as desired.

If the steering wheel 2 shown in FIG. 2 is munipulated to move the wire17, through the pinion 15 and rack 16, in a direction in which it causesthe double arm lever 50 to move in pivotal motion in an anticlockwisedirection, then the lever 46 is moved, through the connecting rod 48, inpivotal motion in a clockwise direction against the biasing force of thespring 47 in FIG. 6. This causes the light source supporter 45 to moveto the left in FIG. 6. It will be readily understood that if thesteering wheel 2 is manipulated in the opposite direction so, as to movethe wire 17 in a direction in which it causes the double arm lever 50 tomove in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction, the light sourcesupporter 45 will move to the right in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 7, the three-dimensional models 18 and 19 of motor vehicles orracing cars are mounted on the upper disc 8 and center disc 9respectively to be disposed on concentric imaginary circles thereon, anda road 52 is drawn on an imaginary circle on the lower disc 10 which isconcentric with the imaginary circles on the discs 8 and 9. Thethree-dimensional models 18 mounted on the upper disc 8 and thethreedimensional models 19 mounted on the center disc 9 are arrangedsuch that the former 18 are disposed in positions corresponding to theouter side of the road 52 and the latter 19 are disposed in positionscorresponding to the inner side of the road 52. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4and 5, a wall 53 disposed axially of the shafts supporting the discs 8,9 and 10 is provided on the peripheral edge of the lower disc 10. Theupper end of the wall 53 can be shaped like mountain summits so that theimages of mountain disposed ata distance can be formed on the screen 12.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the speed control device 20 has a reflecting surface56 formed on one inner side wall of a casing 55 which is closed andsealed so as to be impermeable to light. A light source 57 is providednear said reflecting surface. Pivotally mounted on a shaft 58 in thecasing 55 is a pivotal member 59 which carries at its forward end apivotal head 60 which houses therein a photoelectric transducer element.The photoelectric transducer element has a light receiving surface whichfaces downwardly. The conductors 23 (not shown in FIG. 8, but see FIG. 3connected to the photoelectric transducer element are passed through thepivotal member 59 to be led out of the casing 55, thence to theoscillation drive motor 32 of the drive means 7.

A tension spring 62 connected at one end to the casing 55 is connectedat the other end to the pivotal member 59. The wire 22 is alsoconnected, at one end, to the pivotal member 59 in such a manner thatthe position in which the wire 22 is connected can be adjusted by meansof a screw 64 and a slit 65 formed in the pivotal member 59 with itsmajor dimension being disposed axially of the pivotal member. The wireextends through one side wall of the casing to be led to the outside andconnected, at the other end, to the accelerator 5 through the wheel 21as shown in FIG. 2. A linkage may be used for connecting the pivotalmember 59 to the accelerator. 5 instead of the wire 22. The pivotal head60 is mounted on the pivotal member 59 by a screw 66 received in a slotformed in the pivotal member with its major dimension being disposedaxially of the member so that the position of theformer on the lattercan be adjusted as desired by the screw and slot arrangement. Thispermits one to vary the distance between the light receiving surface ofthe photoelectric transducer element and the reflecting surface 56 ofthe casing 55 as desired.

When the pivotal head 60 is disposed in a position shown in solid linesin FIG. 8, for example, the light emitted by the light source 57 andreflected by the reflecting surface 56 is incident upon the lightreceiving surface of the photoelectric transducer element mounted in thepivotal head 60. When this is the case, the volume of light reflected bythe reflecting surface and incident upon the light receiving surface isrelatively great, because the light receiving surface and the reflectingsurface are substantially parallel to each other and the distancebetween the two surfaces and the distance between the light source 57and the portion of the reflecting surface corresponding to the lightreceiving surface are small. If the accelerator 5 is operated to loosenthe wire 17 at this time, the pivotal member 59 and the pivotal head 60mounted thereon are moved, in pivotal motion, by the biasing force ofthe spring 62 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 58 to, say, aposition shown in dot-and-dash lines. This causes a change in therelative positions of the light receiving surface and reflecting surfaceand the angular displacement of the light receiving surface from thereflecting surface as well as an increase in the distance between thelight source 57 and the portion of the reflecting surface correspondingto the light receiving surface. Accordingly, the volume of lightincident on the light receiving surface of the photoelectric transducerelement is reduced. The volume of light can be varied continuously bythe pivotal movement of the pivotal head 60. The position in which thepivotal head 60 is stopped in its pivotal movement can be selected as vdesired by suitably manipulating the wire 22.

In operation, if the proper coin is inserted into the machine throughcoin slot 6, the main switch of the machine will be turned on to supplypower to the drive motor 13 and light source 11, causing the upper andcenter discs 8 and 9 to rotate. Since the lower disc 10 remainsstationary, the three-dimensional motor vehicle models carried by theupper and center discs are projected onto the screen 12 to form thereonimages of the motor vehicles running on the stationary road (FIG. 10).The rates of revolution of the'discs 8 and 9 differing from each other,the motor vehicles running on the inner side of the curved turns of theroad on the screen and the motor vehicles running on the outer sidethereof differ from one another in speed. If the disc 8 is caused torotate in one direction and the disc 9 is caused to rotate in adirection opposite to the one direction, then it is possible toform onthe screen images of three-dimensional motor vehicles running inopposite directions on the same road on the screen.

If the pedal 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is depressed, then a switch (notshown) is turned on to actuate the oscillation drive motor 32 shown inFIG. 5. If this is the case, the position of the pivotal member 59 andhence the position of the pivotal head 60 shown in FIG. 8 are adjustedthrough thewire 22 trained about the wheel 21. The oscillation drivemotor 32 has its rate of revolution adjusted in accordance with theposition of the pivotal head 60 having a built-in photoelectrictransducer element as aforementioned.

Power transmitted through the gears 33, 34 and 3 5 and hollow shaft 31causes the lower disc 10 to rotate, and at the same time power-istransmitted to the double crank mechanism through the bevel gear 37mounted on shaft 37, the bevel gear 39 in meshing engagement with saidbevel gear 37, and shaft 38. Thus, the unit consisting of the discs 8, 9and 10 and drive means 7 moves in pivotal motion about the pivot 44shown in FIG. 4. By suitably selecting the mounting position of thelonger arm 41 of the double crank mechanism 40 and 41, it is possible tocause the unit to move in pivotal motion only in one direction from itsneutral position. For example, if the longer arm 41 is mounted as shownin FIG. 5, then the unit moves in pivotal motion only to the right. Bythis arrangement, it is possible to cause the road and skyline to tiltperiodically and show a change of the scene as will be apparent bycomparing FIG. 10 with FIG. 1 1. This makes the player feel as if themotor vehicle he is driving is tilted. As the discs 8, 9 and 10 tilt,the images of motor vehicle models, road and background formed on thescreen 12 will naturally tilt, so that the arrangement gives a realisticbanking effect to the screen. In causing the motor vehicle models tobank, it is possible to cause the unit to move in pivotal motion withoutcausing the lower disc 10 to rotate. This can be accomplished simply byreleasing the gears 34 and 35 from meshing engagement with each other.It is also possible to cause the lower disc 10 to be rotated by themotor 13 at all times. To this end, a clutch adapted to be controlled bythe accelerator 5 may be mounted on a shaft mounted for driving the disc10.

If the player manipulates the steering wheel 2, the position of the roadon the screen 12 can be varied because the light source 11 movesrelative to the discs as aforementioned. This makes the player feel asif the motor vehicle he is driving were steered to right and left. It ispossible to make the whole or a part of the motor vehicle driven by theplayer appear on the screen.

What we claim is:

l. A game machine in which the image of a road and the images of motorvehicles running on said road can be formed on a screen, said gamemachine comprising a plurality of transparent discs, a first of saiddiscs having a road pictorially represented thereon and the second andthird of said discs carrying three-dimensional models of motor vehiclesmade of a transparent to semi-transparent material, said discs beingdisposed parallel to one another and mounted for rotation relative toone another, a screen, a light source for projecting obliquely anddirectly on said screen the images of road pictorially represented onsaid first disc and of models carried by said second and third discs,and drive means for rotating said discs.

2. A game machine as defined in claim 1 in which said three-dimensionalmodels of motor vehicles are mounted on said second and third discs in aspace between said two discs in such a manner as to permit said discs torotate relative to one another.

3. A game machine as defined in claim 1 comprising a movable support forsaid light source, and means to operate the movable light source fromoutside the machine.

4. A game machine as defined in claim 1 comprising means for controllingthe speed of rotation of said first transparent disc, said last namedmeans being operable from outside the machine.

5. A game machine as defined in claim 4 in which said means forcontrolling the speed of rotation of said first disc comprises a furtherlight source, a reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted bysaid further light source, a photoelectric transducer element having alight receiving surface, and a casing for housing the aforementionedelements which is impermeable to light, the distance between said lightreceiving surface of said photoelectric transducer element and saidlight source and the relative positions of said light receiving surfaceand said reflecting surface being capable of variation by operation fromoutside whereby the rate of revolution of the disc having a roadgraphically represented thereon can be controlled from outside.

6. A game machine as defined in claim 4, comprising means for supportingthe discs and the drive means therefor as a unit, and means for mountingsaid unit for pivotal motion.

7. A game machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said first disccomprises a cylindrical wall extending from the peripheral edge thereofand constructed to provide a background scene.

1. A game machine in which the image of a road and the images of motorvehicles running on said road can be formed on a screen, said gamemachine comprising a plurality of transparent discs, a first of saiddiscs having a road pictorially represented thereon and the second andthird of said discs carrying three-dimensional models of motor vehiclesmade of a transparent to semitransparent material, said discs beingdisposed parallel to one another and mounted for rotation relative toone another, a screen, a light source for projecting obliquely anddirectly on said screen the images of road pictorially represented onsaid first disc and of models carried by said second and third discs,and drive means for rotating said discs.
 2. A game machine as defined inclaim 1 in which said three-dimensional models of motor vehicles aremounted on said second and third discs in a space between said two discsin such a manner as to permit said discs to rotate relative to oneanother.
 3. A game machine as defined in claim 1 comprising a movablesupport for said light source, and means to operate the movable lightsource from outside the machine.
 4. A game machine as defined in claim 1comprising means for controlling the speed of rotation of said firsttransparent disc, said last named means being operable from outside themachine.
 5. A game machine as defined in claim 4 in which said means forcontrolling the speed of rotation of said first disc comprises a furtherlight source, a reflecting surface for reflecting the light emitted bysaid further light source, a photoelectric transducer element having alight receiving surface, and a casing for housing the aforementionedelements which is impermeable to light, the distance between said lightreceiving surface of said photoelectric transducer element and saidlight source and the relative positions of said light receiving surfaceand said reflecting surface being capable of variation by operation fromoutside whereby the rate of revolution of the disc having a roadgraphically represented thereon can be controlled from outside.
 6. Agame machine as defined in claim 4, comprising means for supporting thediscs and the drive means therefor as a unit, and means for mountingsaid unit for pivotal motion.
 7. A game machine as defined in claim 1wherein said first disc comprises a cylindrical wall extending from theperipheral edge thereof and constructed to provide a background scene.